Dusty Hill
| Dusty Hill | |
|---|---|
 Dusty Hill performing live in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Michael Hill |
| Also known as | "Duster", "The Dust" |
| Born | May 19, 1949 |
| Origin | Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Genres | Hard rock, blues rock, rock |
| Occupation(s) | bassist, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | Rhino/WEA, RCA, Warner Bros., London |
| Associated acts | ZZ Top, Willy & the Wolves, Freddie King, The Warlocks, The Cellar Dwellers, American Blues |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Vintage Fender Telecaster Bass Fender Precision Bass Dean Z Bass | |
Joseph Michael "Dusty" Hill (born May 19, 1949) is the bassist, keyboardist, and co-vocalist with the American rock group ZZ Top.[1]
History
Hill was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas) where he played the cello.
Along with his brother Rocky Hill and future fellow ZZ Top member Frank Beard, Dusty Hill played in local Dallas bands the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues. From 1966 to 1968, American Blues played the Dallas-Fort Worth-Houston circuit. In 1969, Hill was a member of a fake version of the British band The Zombies with Beard.[2]
In 1968, the band decided to leave the Dallas–Fort Worth area and relocate to Houston. At this time, however, guitarist Rocky Hill wanted to focus on "straight blues", while Dusty wanted the band to rock more. Rocky left the band and Dusty and Beard moved to Houston, joining guitarist/vocalist Billy Gibbons of Houston psychedelic-rockers Moving Sidewalks in the recently formed ZZ Top just after they released their first single in 1969.
Dusty Hill's on-screen appearances include Back to the Future Part III, Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme, WWE Raw and Deadwood, and as himself in the 11th-season episode of King of the Hill, "Hank Gets Dusted", in which Hank Hill is said to be Dusty's cousin. He also made an appearance on The Drew Carey Show as himself auditioning for a spot in Drew's band, but is rejected because of his attachment to his trademark beard which he refers to as a 'Texas Goatee'.
Musical equipment
Discography
American Blues albums
- American Blues
- American Blues 'Is Here' (1968)
- Do Their Thing (1969)
References
- ↑ Koda, Cub. "ZZ Top". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ http://www.chron.com/news/strange-weird/article/ZZ-Top-s-Dusty-Hill-and-Frank-Beard-once-7961317.php
